Army announces 10 brigade combat teams to be cut

Jun. 25, 2013 - 06:00AM
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An 82nd Airborne Division soldier fires at insurgents during a firefight in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. The 82nd's 4th BCT is among the brigades slated to be cut, the Army announced June 25. (Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod / Army)

In addition to these 10 BCTs, which will be inactivated by the end of fiscal year 2017, the Army has already announced the inactivation of two BCTs in Germany — the 170th and 172nd BCTs.

In the future, another BCT, this one overseas, will be identified for inactivation, Odierno said, bringing the final number of BCTs to 32.

These cuts are line with the Army’s effort to shrink the active-duty force to 490,000 as it transitions from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Odierno emphasized that these decisions are the result of the Budget Control Act of 2011, not sequestration, which potentially could mean even deeper cuts.

The Army also will reorganize its remaining BCTs by adding a third maneuver battalion to its remaining armored and infantry brigades. The BCTs also will receive additional engineer and fires capabilities, Odierno said.

These changes will make the Army’s remaining BCTs “more lethal, flexible and agile,” he said.